Benjamin Kern
Portrait and Biographical Record ~ Pages
Kindly submitted by: Carrie
Benjamin
Kern has been a resident of Slatington throughout almost
the entire period of his life, and was formerly one of its most
extensive merchants. He acquired a fortune by his ably
conducted business enterprises, and is now living in pleasant
retirement in the city of his birth. When in active business he
displayed marked energy, and his management of his interests was
characterized by superior discrimination, unerring judgment, and
a sound policy in money matters. Though practically retired, he
still maintains a general oversight of his varied interests,
both monetary and real-estate.
Mr. Kern was born in
Slatington, August 26, 1834. His father, Jonas Kern, was one of
the most prominent men of this section of country, and was a
miller by occupation, though engaged in farming for several
years. He was the founder of the town of Slatington, and at one
time owned the land upon which stands the present city. To him
also belongs the distinction of having developed the first slate
quarry of Slatington. Even in old age he retained the activity
and energy characteristic of him in youth, and was hale and
robust up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1892, at
the age of eighty-seven years.
Benjamin Kern is the fifth
lineal descendant in a direct line from Nicholas Kern, the
original owner of a five-hundred-acre tract of land upon which
the major portion of the town of Slatington now stands.
Nicholas Kern held the land under patents (dated November 24,
1737, and March 15, 1738), from the proprietors, the heirs of
William Penn. From Nicholas a portion of it descended to
William, thence to John (the grandfather of our subject),
afterward to Jonas, his father, and is now in the possession of
Benjamin. The present handsome residence of Mr. Kern stands on
that portion of the property which was the garden one hundred
and fifty years ago.
The paternal grandfather of our
subject, John Kern, was a native of Lehigh County and a man of
prominence in his locality. The original representatives of the
family in the United States emigrated hither from Switzerland,
and in an early day settled in Lehigh County, where they
purchased large tracts of land. Our subject’s mother bore the
maiden name of Maria Wehr, and was born in this county, where
her entire life was passed. Benjamin spent the years of boyhood
in the parental home, receiving such advantages as the public
schools afforded, and supplementing the information there gained
by six months’ tuition in the old Allentown Academy.
At the age of sixteen years Mr.
Kern secured a position as clerk in a store at Slatington, where
he gained familiarity with the mercantile trade. In 1853, in
partnership with Henry Kuntz, he embarked in merchandising, and
for several years continued in that connection, but the
partnership was finally dissolved by mutual consent. After that
he conducted the business as sole proprietor, and met with the
greatest success until his retirement, in August of 1893. He
always kept a complete line of goods suited to the wants of his
customers, and had a large trade among the people of Slatington
and the surrounding country.
With all movements tending
toward the advancement of the interests of the town Mr. Kern has
always been in hearty sympathy. In 1877 he was elected Burgess
of Slatington, and in that responsible position displayed the
possession of energy, executive ability and good judgment. For
several terms he served as a member of the Town Council. In
politics he always supports the principles of the Republican
party, and is prominent in local affairs. Socially he is
identified with the Knights of Malta.
On the 6th of
December, 1857, Mr. Kern was united in marriage with Miss Leanna
Peters, a native of Lehigh County, and a daughter of Jonas
Peters, of this county. They have had two daughters, of whom
the elder, Agnes J., is deceased. The younger, Ella Victoria,
is the wife of Joseph H. Fuller. In religious connections Mr.
and Mrs. Kern hold membership in the Reformed Church of
Slatington, to the good works of which they are liberal
contributors, and in the social circles of the town none are
held in higher esteem than they.